Jeri Smith-Ready

New review site, Ciara's fear-ah, and a trip to the vet

Time for a few sundry items.

Bitten by Books reviewed Wicked Game yesterday. I post a link not only so you can read the review (Five Headstones!), because I don't blog about every review (seems a bit brag-alicious, and besides, if you're reading my blog regularly you've probably already decided whether or not to buy Wicked Game), but also to introduce you to this fabulous new site. Rachel Smith has put together a great design and a very active community, so if you like paranormal fiction, it's the new place to be!

Ciara has blogged again, this time about her fear of being interviewed by Dante from A Rush of Wings. It'll happen soon, whether she likes it or not. I mean, I give her free room and board--the least she can do is field a few interviews for me.

Misha was walking wobbly this morning, with his back legs giving out on him, so I rushed him to the vet, fearing a thrombosis (blood clot). Of course, once we got there, he steadily improved and now seems a lot better. (Probably regretting getting into the Jim Beam.) The vet said to keep an eye on him all weekend to make sure he doesn't get worse. He's a very athletic cat, so it's sad to see him sort of feeble.

Speaking of beasts, Baron went into a foster-to-adopt home, so we're not sure which foster dog we're getting and when. I'll be sure to update you and post pictures when I find out.

Still working on Monroe's story and planning to have it up on this site Monday. Will post when live! Have great weekends.

Labels: foster dogs, pets, reviews, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 1:43 PM
• 3 comments

DONE! - and Happy Meadow Day

I finished Bad to the Bone! I "completed" a first draft at the end of February, but missed that feeling of elation because I never wrote the final scene. I just sort of...stopped.

But tonight, it's done! Tomorrow it'll go off to my editor and hopefully won't make her weep in despair. It's got at least one too many plot lines, but some space and feedback will help me figure out which ones stay and which ones go.

I'm taking Tuesday off, my first deliberate vacation day since December 2. Not that I'm complaining. Busy = employed. But too much of a good thing is....

OK, enough words! Say Happy Eighth Birthday to Meadow Sophia Ready, pictured here under one of our white pines (or, as Meadow thinks of them, The Tickle Trees):

Labels: pets, vampire series, writing life

• posted by Jeri @ 10:58 PM
• 6 comments

Where's Wicked Game?

I'm thrilled and dismayed to report that Wicked Game is selling out at many bookstores! Thrilled because, hey, selling out = selling. But dismayed because it means some people won't be able to find it.

Here's what you do. First of all, don't panic if you can't find it at your local bookstore. It might be shelved under science fiction/fantasy, or romance, or even horror (EDITED TO ADD: and general fiction). It might be in new releases. It might be under "S" for Smith-Ready, or "R" for Ready. One person found it under "J" for Jeri. (Seriously. I can't wait until I'm famous enough to be known by one name, but let's not jump the gun.)

Just walk up to the information desk and ask the nice person to look it up for you. If they tell you they currently have no copies, it's not a problem. It's an opportunity! An opportunity for you to be my own personal hero(ine).

See, bookstore employees are busy people, and as you might've noticed, there are A LOT of books out there. At least thirty or maybe even forty.

The computer doesn't send out a DANGER! DANGER! alert when a book sells out, because really, that ought to be saved for a true emergency, like a fire or a system crash or a faulty coffee maker. So lots of times a store won't restock a title even if, say, it sells out in the first week of release.

Here's where you come in. Ask them to order you a copy of Wicked Game (EDITED TO ADD: Don't worry--it won't cost you anything; they'll call you when it's ready and then you go pick it up, with much rejoicing). That gets their attention (especially if you drop the A-bomb* under your breath), and they might even order more than one. If you're not the first person to ask for it, that really gets their attention. They'll think it's a movement!

If you're like me and don't like to waste gas, call first and see if they have it. If they don't, consider ordering it.

Or if you're really like me and too lazy to drag yourself out of the house, order it online.

This public service announcement has been brought to you by the Misha Ready Catnip Foundation, working to bring health and happiness to cats cat all around the house:


*A is for Amazon.com

Labels: pets, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 4:37 PM
• 13 comments

Earth Day is his Birthday

As an amateur-turned-professional-turned-amateur environmentalist, I tend not to celebrate (or even notice) this Gaia-honoring holiday. To me, every day is Earth Day.

However, every day is not Misha's birthday. The only cat I've ever had whose birthday I knew for sure (we got him from a coworker whose harlot kitty came home knocked up one night), Misha turns Lucky 13 today.

To join me in celebrating the Day of the Guy, please enjoy this instructive video, "An Engineer's Guide to Cats." It even contains a potential solution to global warming at the end, thus fulfilling my holiday obligation.



Since his favorite thing in the world is a new pair of (human) shoes, I might need to make a trip to DSW. Anything to keep the boy happy.

Labels: holidays, pets, videos

• posted by Jeri @ 8:36 AM
• 7 comments

Catchin' up

We interrupt the parade of guest bloggers--okay, technically I interrupt the parade--to do a little TCB (that's takin' care of business for you non-Elvis fans), and then show you some dog shots.

INTERVIEWS/BOOK GIVEAWAYS

Congrats to Karen Mahoney, who won a signed copy of Ann Aguirre's Grimspace! Now the rest of you, go buy yourself a copy before the government takes it away. Oh wait, that's egg nog, not Grimspace. Sigh...it's not egg nog itself I miss, it's that pumpkin-flavored soy milk from Silk. Man, it was good on oatmeal.

If you haven't yet, don't forget to comment on my interview with debut author Anton Strout, to win a signed copy of his new urban fantasy Dead to Me.

Coming up we have interviews with:

March 7: Chris Marie Green, author of the Vampire Babylon series
March 11: Caitlin Kittredge, Night Life
March 14: Adrian Phoenix, A Rush of Wings (which as you all know, I loved)
March 18: More TCB from Yours Tru-lee!
March 21: Justin Gustainis, Black Magic Woman
March 25: Rachel Vincent, Rogue

Each of them will be giving away a signed book to one lucky commenter, so be sure to stop by!

CONTESTS

Here's the prize schedule for my Lucky Thirteen Giveaway:

February 12: Wicked Game cover flat -- Winner: Bonnie W.
February 19: Wicked Game Advance Readers Copy --Winner: Reg
February 26: Wicked Game cover flat -- Winner: Betsy L.
March 4: Amazon.com gift card ($10) -- Winner: Tracy P.
March 11: Wicked Game cover flat
March 18: iTunes gift card ($15)
March 25: Wicked Game cover flat
April 1: Booksense gift card ($20)
April 8: WVMP Lifeblood of Rock 'n' Roll T-shirt
April 15: Barnes & Noble gift card ($25)
April 22: WVMP Lifeblood of Rock 'n' Roll coffee mug
April 29: signed copy of Wicked Game
May 6: signed copy of Wicked Game

To enter, all you have to do is subscribe to my newsletter--put your e-mail address in the box on the sidebar (the one that says "Sign up for Jeri's newsletter"). If you're already signed up, the nice people at the mailing list place will tell you.

Newsletter subscribers will get first look at the brand-new ultra-cool WVMP Lifeblood and Rock 'n' Roll logo, and when the free tie-in short stories come out, they'll get to read them a week before anyone else.

APPEARANCES

This Saturday, March 8, from 3-5PM I'll be at A Likely Story here in Sykesville, Maryland. I'm psyched to be appearing with fellow authors Tracy Anne Warren (who won the Rita award for Best First Novel last year), Janet Mullany, and Christi Kelly. Rumor has it there'll be punch and pie.

Visit my News and Appearances page to find out where I'll be for the next three months. Lots of exciting gigs, which I'll tell you more about in my next update.

FUN

March is Adopt a Vampire Novel Month on author Jaye Wells's blog. Stop by all month to find out why the rumors of the vampire's death are greatly exaggerated (and win prizes, too!).

Jim Hines honored Wicked Game with a LOLbooks cover. Hee.

And now, as promised, here are some furries with my book:





The top shot is Brooke C.'s Chihuahua Riley, and the bottom is Riley's son Elliott, who's half-Pomeranian.

Are your pets bookish? Send me their pics, and I'll make 'em famous-ish!

----------------
Now playing: Squeeze - Piccadilly
via FoxyTunes

Labels: appearances, pets, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 9:11 AM
• 3 comments

Color me caved

It's that time of whenever again, folks, when I need to pretend the outside world doesn't so much exist. I'm in the homestretch of the Novel Possibly Known As Bad to the Bone, and then it's the rewrite of The Reawakened, and the the rewrite of TNPOKABTTB. All before March 31.

But never fear! This time I won't be leaving you entirely. I will give you an update each Tuesday on the latest Lucky Thirteen winner.

EVEN BETTER, I've got guest authors lined up, beginning Saturday with debut author Mark Henry, whose Happy Hour of the Damned comes out next week. Dude will make you laugh, guaranteed, and he'll be giving away a signed copy of his new 'zomedy' (that's zombie comedy, for you industry outsiders) to one lucky commenter.

Speaking of authors doing my work for me offering interesting things to read, urban fantasy/paranormal romance writer Yasmine Galenorn just put up the most phenomenal series of posts over on the Fangs Fur & Fey community, entitled "The Nuts & Bolts of Publishing."

I encourage every writer or friend/family member of a writer to read it for an informative reality check. (I think my loved ones suspect I'm a loser because my publishers haven't sent me on an all-expenses-paid book tour. Now they can see I'm oh-so-typical!)

Part 1: How a Manuscript Becomes a Book
Part 2: Advances & Royalties
Part 3: Sales & Promo

And now, for your viewing pleasure, an Australian cat sleeping with my book (click for larger version):


His name is Manny, and you can see him with other books that are actually out.

If you have a photo of your pet sleeping with (or eating, or vaguely staring at) one of my books, let me know, and I'll post it! Note: Children do not count as pets, and it's against my privacy instincts to post pics of people's kids.

----------------
Now playing: Don't Turn Around - Ace Of Base
via FoxyTunes

Yes, I like Ace of Base. Make something of it. I dare you.

Labels: guests, pets, vampire series, writing life

• posted by Jeri @ 6:02 PM
• 0 comments

Meh. Stupid mortal coil.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings...

--John Gillespie Magee, poet and aviator

Ladies and gentlemen, Antigone Pandora Smith-Ready has left the building. It was time to go, and she went with dignity and pride, the way she did everything else.

I'll get back to blogging about books and stuff as soon as I can. A million thanks for all the good wishes and virtual hugs you've given. I feel lucky to have such wonderful friends, and even luckier to have the best friend of all in Tiggy.

Labels: pets

• posted by Jeri @ 10:28 AM
• 7 comments

Back from the brink

As I mentioned last month, one of my cats (Antigone Pandora) has chronic renal failure. Even though it's a terminal disease, cats can survive for months or even years after diagnosis. The care regimen can get crazy at times--we give Tiggy subcutaneous fluids, shoot medicine into her mouth, smear medicine in her ears, and feed her four times a day (minimum).

This morning we took her to the vet on what I thought might be a one-way trip. She hadn't eaten all weekend voluntarily, and from my experience with feline cancer patients, that symptom usually signals the end is near. Not necessarily so with CRF.

To our great relief, the vet said Tiggy looked remarkably well, and somehow her weight hadn't dropped. She just needs some meds to make her tummy feel better, then the rest will follow from a resuming steady diet. They took some blood (and this time didn't have to gas her) and will have the results tomorrow.

Long story short, this is not the end.

OK, "relief" is an understatement. Though my eyes are still puffy from a bout with anticipatory grief, I'm giddy as a goat this afternoon. Hopefully this will mean a merry Christmas, but right now I'll settle for a Merry December 10.




----------------
Now playing: Beauty On The Fire - Natalie Imbruglia
via FoxyTunes

Labels: pets

• posted by Jeri @ 2:18 PM
• 10 comments

Vick to plead guilty to first-degree scumbaggery

Atlanta Falcons (soon-to-be-ex-) quarterback Michael Vick will plead guilty to charges connected with illegal dogfighting.

In more cheerful news, unwanted Vick jerseys are being put to good use at the Atlanta Humane Society. Somehow the thought of his name and number being repeatedly soaked in dog urine just warms the cockles of my heart.

I hope that in prison, they serve him the best food Alpo has to offer.

Labels: football, pets

• posted by Jeri @ 4:21 PM
• 2 comments

Animal husbandry question

Anyone know how to get peanut butter out of a cat's fur? Without getting the dog involved, I mean.

It's, uh, research for a book. Yeah, that's it.


A-Z Update: "Privilege" by Incubus

Labels: food, pets

• posted by Jeri @ 11:02 AM
• 8 comments

Meadow hits middle age

(Sung to the tune of "In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley):

On a hot and gray New Hampshire morn,
Another little baby puppy was born
In the kennel

(in the kennellllll)

And her owner sighed

'Cuz if there's one thing that he don't need
It's ten little worthless mouths to feed
In the kennel

(in the kennelllll)

Today Meadow turned seven, which makes her officially a senior dog. She celebrated by running in counterclockwise circles around the yard for no apparent reason, just like old times.

I can trace my dog's pedigree back 33 generations (36 on her mother's side), but I can only trace my own for four.

Moreover, on Greyhound-Data.com I found paintings of some of her oldest ancestors. Here's King Cob, born in 1838.



And here's one of Bedlamite, born in 1852. In color!!



(Click on either painting for larger versions.)

Sometimes when I look at Meadow's stats, I try to imagine her life at the kennel and at the tracks. Whether it was happy or not (and she shows no signs of ever having been unhappy), it was certainly not the innocent, carefree puppyhood and family life most dog breeds enjoy.

For the first two-and-a-half years, she had a job, one she apparently didn't do very well. Now her main responsibility is to keep the floors clean of toast crumbs, ice cream, and (sorry) hairballs. She also volunteers as rabbit muncher and couch warmer, though neither of these duties were in the original job description.

Mostly she just sits around looking cute:



Happy Birthday, Meadow!

Labels: pets

• posted by Jeri @ 9:03 PM
• 9 comments

Black attack

My heart's on fire got flames down my spine
I've been there done that i walked the line
I don't give a damn
About what people think or say
If you don't like what you see get outta my way
--Necromantix, "I'm a Hellcat"

Took one of our felines to the vet today.

She was such a mega-monster about getting blood drawn that--get this--they had to gas her, like a wild animal. This involved sticking her in a box and pumping in a bit of general anesthesia. They said it was safer and would have a quicker recovery than an injectable anesthetic or sedative.

Sure enough, ten minutes later, she was awake and cranky as ever.

Sixteen years old and still fights like a Tasmanian Devil. That's my Antigone Pandora. Sometimes I wish I could be a little more like her.



A-Z Update: "Full Circle" by Loreena McKennitt

Labels: pets

• posted by Jeri @ 6:57 PM
• 4 comments

Bits of goodlies

To make up for yesterday's (much-deserved) negativity (see below for the sad, sad update), I'm going to post a few things I'm happy about today:

• My stomach is finally back to normal after its usual travel sensitivity. I had a (veggie) ham, egg, and cheese sammich on a pretzel roll with coffee this morning. Mmm...pretzel roll...insert Homer Simpson-style drool sound effect.
• Today is the fourth anniversary of our adoption of Meadow Cheddo. This is what she looked like the day after we brought her home:

I call that her "Dubious Face." We were her fourth home in one month. There was her first foster home, then her first adopters, who brought her back after one night because "she whined in her crate." (They are no doubt now the proud and happy owners of a pet rock.) Then came her second foster home, then us. She was quite reserved with us for the first month; she probably figured we were just another way station.

Today she looks like this:


Her full Lakota name, by the way, is Meadow Two Bears.

• I'm reading a delightful book by Gena Showalter, Playing With Fire. It's the first of her books I've read, and I'm hooked! I met her last week, and she's a total sweetie pie.
• Spring came while I was in Houston. Trees have leaves (shade on the deck at last!) and the lilacs are blooming. I swear, I could get drunk off the scent of lilacs. It should be a controlled substance.
  
• Happiest of all, I'm finally revising my vampire novel, which is now called Wicked Game.
  

A-Z Update: "Everything I Touch" by Stabbing Westward

Labels: pets, reading, vampire series

• posted by Jeri @ 9:54 AM
• 4 comments

Vote for Meadow!

Election Day may be over, but there's one more vote to cast.

My dog Meadow is running for Cutest Greyhound in the Metropolitan Washington Area:




Based on the picture, you'd think her victory a lock, but she's up against some hardcore Washington insiders. Meadow won't kowtow to the special interests--she's a real dog of the people.

Voting continues through Wednesday, November 15. So cast your ballot today--it costs nothing but a minute of your time.

Together, we can build a better future for America and make a little girl's dream come true. And win me some sort of prize.

Labels: pets

• posted by Jeri @ 6:25 AM
• 10 comments

Them's bitin' words

Today's New York Times ran an article on dog rescue (you can read it online for free for the next week), entitled "So You Think You Can Just Adopt a Dog?"

The article starts off with the tale of a woman and her two daughters who were turned down by the Humane Society in their efforts to adopt a dog. (Cue crying children.) They later adopted a dog from the county animal shelter, which apparently had less stringent adoption requirements.

Then the article proceeds to list the "hoops" prospective adopters must jump through to adopt a rescue dog: a multipage application (Gasp!), personal and veterinary references (oh my God!), interviews (No!), and a home visit (You want to what?!!). They compare it to the process of adopting a child.

I know people who have adopted children or are trying to, and the process doesn't take days--it takes months or years. The comparison, which I hear all the time, is an insult to those who have gone through this arduous process.

I spent two hours working on our application to adopt Meadow. One of the questions Greyhound Welfare asked was, "What would be the schedule for a typical day in the life of your dog?" Though time-consuming to answer, it forced me to think, "How will I fit this animal into my routine?" Especially for first-time dog owners, these are important questions to consider.

A dog is not a new piece of furniture. He or she is a living creature with physical and emotional needs. It's our job as temporary caretakers to ensure that the new home will be a permanent one. Rescue dogs have already had a difficult past; we want to know that their future will be better.

That being said, I believe rescue volunteers should remember that in any adoption, there are two parts to the equation: the animal and the adopter. Though the animal's welfare is our responsibility, we shouldn't forget the feelings of the people involved.

Most prospective adopters are well-meaning individuals who just want a nice pet, a companion to love and be loved by. They do not share our obsession with all aspects of animal care. They want their dog to be a member of the family, not a part-time job.

As Stuart Smalley would say, "And that's O-K."

With the families who adopt our fosters, I try to show compassion and understanding, and not make harsh judgments. I try to educate without lecturing. Perhaps my attitude is too laid-back, but I remember what it was like to be on the other end of the adoption process, wondering if every word I said was being dissected and analyzed.

That's all I have time for right now before going to work. Those of you who have adopted rescue dogs and/or cats, what are your feelings and experiences?

Labels: foster dogs, pets

• posted by Jeri @ 7:55 AM
• 4 comments

Doin' the Deaky

So I'm heading into my fourth day with "Squeaky Deaky" stuck in my head (occasionally interrupted by the Russian number from Riverdance--it's amazing I sleep). I noticed yesterday as I went about my chores that the singer's mellow, harmless little voice had started crooning alternate lyrics, namely pop ballad couplets a la Roy Orbison.

Squeaky deaky (squeak squeak squeak)
Don't you understand
Squeaky deaky (squeak squeak squeak)
I wanna be your man

I swear that I actually hear the guy's voice singing these lyrics--it's not my own head voice doing it, and it happened totally unbidden.

Squeaky deaky (squeak squeak squeak)
Come on and stay the night
Squeaky deaky (squeak squeak squeak)
It's gonna be all right

(I should add here that I've grown to sort of love the "Squeaky Deaky" song, and highly recommend purchasing the CD, Songs to Make Dogs Happy, which on Monday was #48 on Amazon.com. The song "Scratch My Back" is really cute.)

Squeaky deaky (squeak squeak squeak)
I knew right from the start
Squeaky deaky (squeak squeak squeak)
That you would break my heart

I'm sure it won't be long before the lyrics start to turn dark and/or suggestive. Check back for updates on my descent into madness.

Labels: evil, music, pets

• posted by Jeri @ 8:06 AM

Kill. Me. Now.

Squeakey deakey (squeak squeak squeak)
I love my squeaky toy
Squeakey deakey (squeak squeak squeak)
It makes me jump for joy

Someone on my greyhound listserv posted a link to this NPR bit about a hot new CD for dogs, called Songs to Make Dogs Happy. The above-quoted song, "Squeakey Deakey," is the #1 hit off this new CD. I wasn't aware there was a different Billboard chart for each species, but okay. I played this tune that's supposed to be all the rage with the Rovers to see what Meadow would do. Upon hearing the squeak toy sound effects scattered throughout the song, she immediately went to the back door. This could mean one of three things:

1) the song made her think of her rubber squeaky ball, which lives outside
2) the song made her think of other things that squeak when you bite them, like baby bunnies, which also live outside
3) she wanted to escape the clutches of this song before it devoured her sanity

While she isn't what I would call the world's most intelligent dog, I now credit her with possessing the survival instincts I so clearly lack, because all day this song has been jammed into a deep part of my brain where no neurosurgeon can safely venture.

I went to work and organized my boss's business expenses for tax season. Beneath the tapping of the spreadsheet-filling keyboard lurked

Squeakey deakey (squeak squeak squeak)
Roll it on the ground
Squeakey deakey (squeak squeak squeak)
I love that squeaky sound

I came home and over dinner discussed with my husband the political and philosophical ramifications of the Terry Schiavo case. Yet I felt detached from the conversation, because my mind couldn't grapple with the complex moral issues involved. It was too busy thinking

Squeakey deakey (squeak squeak squeak)
Always makes me laugh
Squeakey deakey (squeak squeak squeak)
Playing in the grass

And now I'm trying to write a particularly intense scene for my new book. The main character is alone in the forest on a vision quest-type experience. To give the scene the depth it deserves, I need to be in a state of spiritual awareness, a place of otherworldly serenity. But the Muzak player in the back corner of my head keeps churning out on infinite "Repeat,"

Squeakey deakey (squeak squeak squeak)
I love to play along
Squeakey deakey (squeak squeak squeak)
I love to squeak the song

Go ahead. Listen to it. I dare you. You'll think, "Oh, that's cute" or silly, or whatever, yet you'll be compelled to hum along and finish the entire two minutes and thirty-four seconds. Then you'll turn it off and give it no more thought.

But just wait until 3:45 a.m., when you wake to get a drink of water or pay a visit to the loo.

It will be there.

Waiting.

Perhaps in a minor key....

Squeakey deakey (squeak squeak squeak)
Makes me jump for joy
Squeakey deakey (squeak squeak squeak)
I love my squeaky toy!

Labels: evil, music, pets

• posted by Jeri @ 10:07 AM